To stop fake news, challenge your own views first | Lionel Page | TEDxQUT

Summary

This script explores the impact of the post-truth era on public debate, highlighting how we are influenced by self-deception and confirmation bias. Through examples like the Trump inauguration, the speaker illustrates how people often selectively interpret news and facts to align with their beliefs. The role of social media and the internet in reinforcing these biases is also examined. The speaker urges individuals to question their views, engage with opposing perspectives, and avoid contributing to the distortion of facts, aiming to foster an open public space where ideas can be genuinely debated.

Takeaways

• 😀 The internet has given us access to a wealth of information, but it has also led to the rise of misinformation and fake news.
• 😀 Despite increased communication, more information does not necessarily lead to better understanding or tolerance of differences.
• 😀 In the case of the Trump inauguration, many people believed false information, showing how easily misinformation can spread.
• 😀 The belief in fake news is often fueled by self-deception, where people tend to believe information that aligns with their interests or identity.
• 😀 Humans are not perfectly rational thinkers; we often cling to ideas for emotional or personal reasons, rather than objective truth.
• 😀 Self-deception is common, and it manifests in selective belief, where we accept information that supports our beliefs and dismiss contradictory evidence.
• 😀 People are more likely to reject contradictory information about their political beliefs, while accepting supporting evidence more readily.
• 😀 Social media has intensified the effects of self-deception by providing a platform where like-minded individuals can reinforce each other's views.
• 😀 The internet has made it easier for people to find communities that support their beliefs, creating echo chambers and informational bubbles.
• 😀 To improve public debate, we must challenge our own views, seek diverse perspectives, and avoid contributing to the distortion of facts on social media.
• 😀 The three guidelines to foster better public discourse are: avoid selecting information that only confirms your beliefs, question your own views, and avoid distorting facts when sharing information.

Q & A

What does the speaker mean by the 'post-truth era'?

The 'post-truth era' refers to a time where emotions and beliefs outweigh facts in shaping public opinion. The speaker contrasts this with the 'information age' where more information was thought to lead to better understanding, but in reality, more communication has led to widespread misinformation.

How does the Trump inauguration example illustrate the concept of fake news?

The example shows how despite visual evidence (photos of the ceremonies), many Trump supporters believed that his inauguration had a larger crowd than Obama's, simply because they were presented with the White House's claim. This highlights how fake news works by exploiting people's willingness to believe things that align with their own beliefs.

What is the role of self-deception in shaping our beliefs?

Self-deception plays a critical role in shaping our beliefs by making us selectively accept information that aligns with our existing views. It leads us to ignore or dismiss information that contradicts our beliefs, even when the evidence is clear.

How does self-deception manifest in political beliefs?

Self-deception in political beliefs is evident when people resist contradictions to their views, especially in highly charged political issues. People tend to hold on to their political beliefs even when confronted with opposing evidence, which weakens the overall quality of public debate.

What did the study on political beliefs and contradictions reveal?

The study showed that when people are confronted with contradictions to their non-political beliefs, they tend to update their views. However, when it comes to political beliefs, people are more resistant to changing their views, even when presented with evidence that contradicts them.

How do people choose the news they consume, according to the script?

People tend to seek out news that confirms their existing beliefs. This selective exposure leads individuals to consume information from sources that align with their views, reinforcing their beliefs while avoiding contradictory information.

What are the consequences of selectively interpreting news?

Selective interpretation leads to biased understanding, where people dismiss information that contradicts their beliefs and accept information that supports them. This creates a distorted view of reality and prevents a genuine exchange of ideas.

How do social media platforms exacerbate the issue of self-deception?

Social media platforms allow individuals to easily find communities that support their views, creating informational bubbles. These bubbles reinforce people's beliefs by selectively promoting content that aligns with their views and suppressing contradictory information.

What is meant by 'informational bubbles' in the context of social media?

Informational bubbles refer to communities or groups on social media where people are exposed only to information that aligns with their pre-existing views. These bubbles make it difficult for individuals to encounter different perspectives, leading to confirmation bias.

What steps does the speaker suggest to improve public debate and counteract self-deception?

The speaker suggests three steps: 1) Avoid narrowing your information sources to only those that confirm your beliefs, 2) Question your views and consider counterarguments, and 3) Be mindful of how you share information, ensuring it's accurate and not distorted to fit a community's narrative.